Another option is to use anonymous payment methods, such as prepaid debit cards or gift cards. These can be purchased at many retailers and can be used to make purchases without providing personal information. Look for exchanges that use two-factor authentication and other measures to protect your account and funds. Another advantage of buying cryptocurrency without SSN is that it can lead to more secure transactions.
The innocent individuals whose SSNs are being traded on the Dark Web often bear the brunt of these criminal activities. They may face difficulties in accessing loans, obtaining employment, or acquiring government benefits due to the fraudulent use of their personal information. “Special agents with IRS-CI’s DC Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to work with the U.S. and international law enforcement community to end these complex scams, regardless of where the money trail leads them.” The US Department of Justice has shut down SSNDOB, a popular darknet marketplace for trading compromised Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers, and other sensitive personally identifiable information (PII). To begin buying bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies you will need to link a bank account or credit card to the exchange. Coinbase is one of the most popular digital currency exchanges, based in the U.S and boasting over 43 million users.
Cardermarket

They’re frequently cheap to buy, stolen in large numbers, and can be bundled with other documents such as passport, driver’s licence, email, and more. This virtual event picks apart the various components of attack surface management strategy, the push to mandate continuous asset visibility and inventory tools, and the use of red-teaming, bug bounties and pen-tests in modern security programs. Authorities estimate that the PII sellers raked in over $19 million from this illicit activity. This website contains links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein. Users were greeted with a login page and a URL they could use to access the service’s darknet site.
There are also several options available for buying and selling without verification on P2P exchanges, although they are much less user-friendly and are recommended for more advanced users. After buying bitcoin from an exchange, it’s important to withdraw to your own non-custodial wallet for security, privacy, and to have full control over your bitcoin. For years, the SSNDOB Marketplace sold the personal information – such as Social Security numbers, names, and birth dates – of millions of people, including approximately 24 million individuals in the US.
Most Popular Bitcoin Exchanges In The United States
“The two markets may have had some relationship to one another, including possibly shared ownership,” the report said. On Tuesday, the Justice Department announced that a group of darkweb domains, collectively known as the SSNDOB Marketplace, had been taken offline. The websites were reportedly used to sell data like individuals’ names, Social Security numbers, and birthdates—predominately targeting those in the U.S.
Precautions, such as educating oneself, consulting legal advice, protecting personal information, and choosing reliable sellers, are essential if one were to consider exploring the dark web. However, it is strongly advised to abstain from engaging in illegal activities altogether. The dark web presents a complex and treacherous world, filled with illegal activities and hidden dangers. Buying a Social Security Number (SSN) on the dark web is not only against the law but also exposes individuals to severe legal consequences and ethical dilemmas. There is no guarantee that the SSN you purchase will be valid or not already flagged as stolen or compromised.

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Some individuals may be looking for a new identity, while others seek to engage in financial fraud or evade legal authorities. Regardless of the motive, it is important to understand the risks and consequences involved in participating in such transactions. The international operation to dismantle and seize this infrastructure is the result of close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Cyprus and Latvia.
Regardless of the specific motives, it is crucial to understand that buying SSNs on the Dark Web carries significant risks. Engaging in such activities is illegal, and individuals involved can face severe legal consequences, including criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment. However, it’s important to note that while these alternative methods provide opportunities to buy cryptocurrency without an SSN, they may come with their own set of risks and limitations. Market volatility, security concerns, regulatory compliance, and the potential for scams should always be taken into account. By using peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, privacy-focused exchanges, decentralized exchanges (DEX), or cryptocurrency ATMs, individuals can purchase cryptocurrencies without sharing their SSN.
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- Taking down the SSNDOB website disrupted ID theft criminals and helped millions of Americans whose personal information was compromised,” said Darrell Waldon, special agent in charge at the IRS-CI (criminal investigation) D.C.
- The US Department of Justice has shut down SSNDOB, a popular darknet marketplace for trading compromised Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers, and other sensitive personally identifiable information (PII).
- The United States has 7 trusted exchanges available for you to sign up for, with the most popular being Coinbase and Kraken, which account for a combined 125,000,000 active users.
- We learned about the significance of an SSN and why it holds value on the dark web, as well as the motivations behind individuals wanting to purchase an SSN.
Enter the amount you wish to buy, and we’ll instantly calculate the BTC equivalent based on the current exchange rate. 100% Money Back Guarantee.If we can not find your subject’s social security number, your money will be returned to you. Using our service is legal as long as you have a valid purpose like debt recovery, child support, 1099 filling, etc. You must have a valid purpose like judgment recovery, debt recovery, child support, criminal investigations, civil investigations, 1099 filling, etc. The exchange you choose will be interoperable with most devices, desktop and mobile, and will allow you to withdraw to your own personal hardware wallet.
Q: How Do I Research And Choose The Right Cryptocurrency Exchange?

For example, just by knowing your name and Social Security Number (SSN) a criminal can open a credit card or take out a loan, they can open a new phone account, can get medical care in your name, get a driver’s license, or even claim your tax refund. The cybercriminals used bitcoin for payments and routed traffic through servers in Cyprus and Latvia, which meant the joint task force assigned to halt the operation, which included FBI and IRS agents, had to work closely with their European counterparts. The good news is that there are alternative methods available for buying cryptocurrency without the need for an SSN. In this article, we will explore different approaches that can help you navigate the cryptocurrency world without compromising your privacy and security.
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There are also cases where individuals purchase SSNs to access government benefits fraudulently. By using someone else’s SSN, they can apply for welfare programs, unemployment benefits, or healthcare services, siphoning resources that are meant for those in genuine need. The Dark Web also serves as a platform for political activists, whistleblowers, and journalists to communicate anonymously and share sensitive information without fear of reprisal. However, the anonymity provided by the Dark Web also attracts criminal elements who exploit its features for malicious purposes. Unlike the surface web, which is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, the Dark Web operates on a hidden network of servers and websites. This unique addressing system ensures that the servers hosting these websites maintain a significant level of anonymity.
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The potential legal and ethical implications of participating in illicit transactions outweigh any perceived benefits. It is strongly advised to abstain from such activities for your own safety and the welfare of others. Prior to engaging in any cryptocurrency transactions, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research, verify the reputation of the platforms or individuals involved, and take necessary security measures to protect your digital assets. One of the primary benefits of buying cryptocurrency without SSN is increased privacy and anonymity. When you don’t provide your SSN, you have more control over your personal information and can conduct transactions without fear of identity theft or other forms of fraud.
Method 3: Using Decentralized Exchanges (DEX)
One breach taking your login from a gaming forum can quickly become something that exposes Government service logins or bank accounts. The data exposure risk creeps ever upwards and one small mistake can have severe consequences. SSNDOB advertised its services on dark web forums and offered customer support for buyers. Digital payment methods such as Bitcoin were used to preserve the operator’s anonymity.

They pointed to the use of stolen information by Russia’s Internet Research Agency to create fake social media accounts leading up to the 2016 and 2020 elections. U.S. law enforcement worked with authorities in Cyrus and Latvia to seize four domains belonging to SSNDOB administrators. SSNDOB sent over $100,000 worth of Bitcoin to Joker’s Stash between December 2018 and June 2019.
- Additionally, due to the nature of these exchanges, it’s essential to exercise caution and do your own research to ensure the reputation and trustworthiness of the platform before proceeding with any transactions.
- This encryption and anonymization serve as strong incentives for criminals to conduct their activities within this hidden realm.
- Uphold also works with licensed banking partners in the US and is regulated by the United States Treasury Department regulator, FinCEN.
- The takedown is the second seizure by the FBI this month of a criminal operation boasting stolen data.
- Cybersecurity firm Advanced Intel told BleepingComputer that much of the collected data was obtained through healthcare and hospital data breaches.
Blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis said that in addition to Social Security numbers, the site also carried email addresses, passwords and credit card numbers. The site also had ties to other popular stolen credential marketplaces like Joker’s Stash, a large darknet market that offered stolen credit card information and other information before it was was shut down January 2021. By taking these simple but effective steps, you can protect your financial information and prevent potential data breaches. Keep these security measures in mind to ensure that your cryptocurrency purchases are safe and secure.
The now-defunct darkweb supermarket for credit card details made $1 billion in Bitcoin before shutting down on its own accord in February last year. On Tuesday, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced it had seized SSNDOB’s websites, which sold the personal data of 24 million US citizens for over $19 million. The takedown included agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and police in Cyprus and Latvia. There are simple techniques that will make you more difficult to hack, and to make it easier for you to identify if you’ve become the victim of identity theft. But two of the best steps you can take to secure your accounts that are often overlooked are freezing credit lines and securing your mobile devices.